ROTARY OSCILLATING/RECIPROCATING SURGICAL TOOL
A surgical tool that has a pair of transmissions coupled to one another to effect driving of a cutting tool in both an oscillating manner and a reciprocating manner. The transmissions are driven by a motor coupled to one of the transmissions.
1 . A rotary oscillating tool comprising:
a transmission comprising a first driver configured to operably couple a second driver to a motor, the first driver comprising:
a inner race secured to a motor shaft;
an outer race.
a plurality of ball bearings contained between the inner race and the outer race;
an oscillating connector coupled to the outer race, wherein the oscillating connector comprises a curved gear rack portion and is restrained to movement in a single plane; and
a gear configured to engage the curved gear rack portion and oscillate in response to movement of the inner race.
2 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 1 , wherein the inner race is spherical.
3 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 1 , wherein the inner race has an outer groove configured to retain the plurality of ball bearings.
4 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 1 , wherein the outer race is ring-shaped.
5 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 3 , wherein the outer race comprises an inner groove configured to retain the plurality of ball bearings.
6 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 5 , wherein the outer groove of the inner race and the inner groove of the outer race are positioned along a plane that is at an angle of 30 to 80 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the motor shaft.
7 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 1 , wherein the outer race can only move in an oscillating manner.
8 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 6 , wherein a degree of rotation of the gear depends upon the angle of the plane relative to the longitudinal axis.
9 . The rotary oscillating tool of claim 1 , comprising a first shaft coupled to the second driver, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first shaft is at an angle of 5 to 45 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of a second shaft coupled to the gear.